The staff gave Rudolph video clips of the tight-end sets from every New England Patriots game in 2011, which helped Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski amass 169 catches, more than 2,200 yards and 24 touchdowns.

After admiring the smaller, shiftier Hernandez beating man coverage and Gronkow--ski as the "big-body guy who can sit in a hole" in zone coverage, Rudolph wouldn't mind re-enacting some of the Patriots' magic with Vikings free-agent signee John Carlson, who is known for his quickness.

"If we can take both of those aspects of their game and implement it to what we're doing here, we have a chance to be successful," said Rudolph, the Vikings' second-round draft pick a year ago who has a similar build to Gronkowski at 6 feet 6 inches and 258 pounds.

Rudolph and Carlson have put their offseason study habits to good use through the first two days of training camp, often slicing through the middle of the defense as primary targets for quarterback Christian Ponder. With hands the size of foam fingers, Rudolph flat-out controlled the pace of the offense with several catches Friday, July 27.

The Vikings will conduct their first padded practice Monday.

Nearly every prolific NFL passing attack has a tight end known more for pass-catching than blocking.

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A heavy dose of Carlson (6-4, 248) and Rudolph early in the season might offset the loss of wide receiver Jerome Simpson, who was suspended for three games after violating the league's substance-abuse policy. The twosome also can ease the burden on the running game with Adrian Peterson still rehabbing, assuming receivers can do enough to keep safeties honest downfield.

But Vikings fans have heard the two-tight-end talk before. Rudolph was expected to form a potent tandem with Visanthe Shiancoe last season, an effort that limped to the finish line with a combined 62 catches, 658 yards and six touchdowns. Rudolph nursed a hamstring injury for most of the season, and Shiancoe was well into his 30s.

For now, without a true offensive identity fully developed this early in camp, Carlson is taking the conservative approach when it comes to mirroring the Patriots.

"To compare us to those two tight ends is not something I'm going to do right now," said Carlson, who signed a five-year, $25 million deal in March after four seasons with Seattle. "We've got a lot of work to do; we have a long ways to go. It's been done. It's being done out there. We have to work to improve to get toward that point."

This year's group has a healthier, wiser Rudolph and the athleticism of Carlson, who caught 51 passes and seven touchdowns for Seattle in 2009. A shoulder injury derailed his 2011 campaign.

Both are highly intelligent and competitive, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said. The relationship between the former Notre Dame standouts dates to 2007, when Carlson would host the younger Rudolph on his recruiting visits.

Rudolph can be a potent red-zone target, especially on touch passes where he can use his monstrous frame and outreach defenders. Carlson might do the most damage on short-to-intermediate routes.

But Rudolph considers the two interchangeable parts. They can line up both on the outside, one on the outside and one in the slot, or one in the slot and one in the backfield.

"That will put us in places all over the field to make plays," Rudolph said.

Carlson's biggest production came in year two, and Rudolph also has a chance to break out. He admits his speed was compromised for most of last season by a severe hamstring injury that required surgery in October 2010. He had trouble shaking defenders on his hip. Early in camp, he is noticing he's getting in and out of breaks cleaner.

Linebacker Chad Greenway has spent much of the past five seasons covering tight ends in the open field, so he knows about today's prototype.

Rudolph fits the mold, Greenway said.

"They are so rangy, the basketball players like Kyle," Greenway said. "Athletic and strong enough to play at the end of the line and block but also 6 foot 6 with jumping ability. He's just a matchup problem."